Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) – A fresh poll gauging the Republican presidential race in Iowa shows Mitt Romney on top. But it also presents a mixed bag of news for the former Massachusetts governor and his two top competitors in the GOP race.

According to the American Research Group, Inc. survey: Mitt Romney leads among those Republicans likely to attend Iowa's caucuses, despite his having paid scant campaign attention to Iowa thus far. Also, Rick Perry is skimming off support from Rep. Michele Bachmann, though the Texas governor is running neck-and-neck with the Minnesota congresswoman in the state. And the ARG poll shows Bachmann holding a solid lead with Iowa tea party supporters, though her poll rating dramatically shrinks among non tea partiers.
In the survey, Romney receives 21 percent among likely Iowa Republican caucus-goers, with Bachmann at 15 percent, Perry at 14 percent and Texas Rep. Ron Paul at 12 percent.

That Romney holds a solid lead in the Iowa survey is noteworthy: he has spent far less time in the Hawkeye State this campaign season compared to Bachmann and Perry, who've recently barnstormed Iowa. Romney's last appearance in Iowa was in August.

Among those Iowans who say they will definitely attend the GOP caucuses, Romney also leads his top two opponents.

In the survey, the former Massachusetts governor garners 19 percent support among that group compared to the Minnesota congresswoman and the Texas governor each at 15 percent and Paul at 14 percent.

But according to the poll, Perry can claim bragging rights for momentum in Iowa.

In July, the survey showed Perry at two-percent - well before he announced his candidacy in August. Meanwhile, the poll says Perry's rising popularity is partly due to one thing: he's taking away support from Bachmann.

It is with tea party supporters that Bachmann sees an especially bright spot.

The congresswoman leads with 19 percent among that group, according to the survey, though that's down from 30 percent in July. Perry gets 14 percent among tea party supporters, Paul and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich are both at 13 percent, conservative businessman Herman Cain is at 10 percent - and Romney falls into the single digits with a six percent showing.

How did these numbers change when non tea party supporters in Iowa were asked who they support?

Among that group, Romney maintains a whopping lead. Thirty-seven percent of those who don't support the tea party, or are undecided about the movement, support the former Massachusetts governor, while Perry gets 15 percent, Paul sees 11 percent and Bachmann gets 10 percent.

The American Research Group, Inc. survey conducted 600 telephone interviews of GOP caucus goers in Iowa between September 22-27. The survey's margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points.

soundoff(9 Responses)

Did you ever stop to think that the 21% support is because Mittens did not actively campaign there? Had Iowans gotten to know him, they would have him below Bachmann.

September 28, 2011 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

The Real Tom Paine

Sanity pays off, even if flip-flopping does not.

September 28, 2011 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

No Amnesty for Teabaggers - Impeach Republicans

Perry did not even last as long as the one issue birther, Donald Trump.

September 28, 2011 02:50 pm at 2:50 pm |

Kweg Yung

Corporate America continues its expansion into China; where socialized healthcare and socialized education are the norm. Bush's “tax cuts for the rich” policy continues to fund this transition. (When was the last time you saw a job created in the U.S.?) These former American companies only pay tax in China, supporting a growing communist government and military. The Republican party represents the rich corporations- and these corporations are moving to China. These guys aren't batting for us (U.S.) anymore. The writing is on the wall. Just open your eyes...

September 28, 2011 02:54 pm at 2:54 pm |

DC

go mitt

September 28, 2011 02:54 pm at 2:54 pm |

Woman In California

On January 21, 2008 at a MLK Jr. parade Mitt Romney greeted a large group of African Americans by asking “who let the dogs out”? To this date, he hasn’t issued an apology. Unfortunately, the group he addressed either weren’t paying attention or are/were totally mentally challenged not to have realized the racial implication there. I, and many other Americans DID. When any politician refers to me as a “dog” (whether jokingly or not) they would be extremely foolish and/or ignorant or a combination of BOTH to expect my vote. I am still waiting for Mitt Romney to address any crowd of white people and ask that question. Until then, I will consider him a racist and a disrespectful fool. Further, this “dog” and many other “dogs” as he put it will continue to hate and detest him and cast our votes for the other candidates AGAINST him accordingly.

September 28, 2011 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |

diridi

He has to change his tune on Health Care to win....o.k, He is not so bad....but I like Obama's policies, because of them, we are still intact.

September 28, 2011 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |

Rudy NYC

I wonder who pays for all of these polls and why. They seem like carefully crafted propaganda vehicles to me. A survey can be designed to confirm or deny just about most any topic you wish.

September 28, 2011 03:16 pm at 3:16 pm |

Joe c

The free ride and honeymoon is over for Perry...he looked pathetic in the debates..he has no one to blame but himself...it was his too lose and he is going to lose it. The tide is certainly turning against him...